Adding anchor chain

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cmedsailor

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I currently have only 30 meters of anchor chain plus rope (36ft sailing boat around 6.5 tonnes) and would like to add another 20 meters of chain. Is it a good idea to add chain using one of these chain connections or will I have to replace the whole chain with a new 50 meter one? In other words, are these chain connections strong enough to do the job?
Thanks
 
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are these chain connections strong enough to do the job?


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No.

If you search the web you can find the figures. I can't remember where but when I investigated this I was quite shocked by how weak these joining links are, compared with the chain they are joining.
 
One of the mags (either PBO or YM) did an article on this fairly recently. Some are much better than others. Give them a call for a re-print; sorry I can't be more specific but I've been nagged into throwing out all my old copies!
 
PM Vyv Cox unless he finds this thread himself.

You can join two lengths of chain but must be very careful as to which C-link you use. The YM article gave some very useful information, and if I come across it I will post the details. However Vyv wrote it so this may not be necessary!
 
I wouldn't use a C-link, but I don't think you will need to replace the whole length. I added extra length to my chain by getting an engineering shop to weld on the additional piece. I used the guys who make the Jacobs cradles, so I was pretty confident that it would be a proper job.
 
Go welded for peace of mind. "C" links are, in my opinion, temporary fixits. Easy on and easy off!

If you choose to buy a new 50m length (I have 50m and it is a lot better than the standard 30m which I had on my previous boat) it pays to shop around for a good deal. If there's any chance you might put a windlass on - and 50m is a lot of weight to haul to the deck!- get calibrated chain, so it will pass through the windlass drum without jamming.

PWG
 
I have never been happy with the C links. Use an ordinary shackle which you can mouse. It will snag on the bow roller/winch but not be a real problem on the smaller boat
 
As said above, I destructively tested C-links and chain for an article in YM.

For reference, the chain failed at 4.9 tonnes.

C-links bought in chandlers. Most are very poor, made from questionable materials.
Carbon steel ones failed at loads varying from 1.9 tonnes to 3.3 tonnes (check with a magnet, if attaracted they are carbon steel)
Stainless steel ones (non-magnetic) 2.5 tonnes and 3.3 tonnes.

Specialist lifting equipment links failed at 4.0 and 4.6 tonnes. The better of these was made by ACCO and bought from West Marine, USA. The other came from Selby Eng and Lifting, Leeds. Be aware that shipping and minimum order costs make both of these quite expensive, so it could be worth getting together with some other buyers.

The best performers are heat treated and they are difficult to make up. Heavy blows with a weighty hammer are needed to force the rivets into the countersunk holes. The cheap and weak ones are in as-cast condition and are therefore easy to make up. The stainless ones are a reasonable compromise, relatively easy to make up but are clearly weaker than the chain. However, to put it into perspective, it would be remarkable conditions that could exert this kind of force, not to mention that very few anchors might hold at these levels.
 
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very few anchors might hold at these levels.



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Did you have any particular makes of anchor in mind?

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I knew it.....'ere we go again: who's going to bite

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
In future cut out the interesting bits and file them away under miscellaneous/lost and she will accept that until she can't get into your storage area, which will be a lot later than if it was full up with full size mags. Make it interesting for her and involve her in categorising, showing her the value of all the crap she thinks you are keeping. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Maggi (Italy) made 8mm DIN766/A chain - break 4000kg
Most reputable manufactured 8mm short link - break 3200kg
Chinese made short link chain - break 2000-2800kg (even the stuff claiming to be DIN). Breaking as low as 850kg is been seen on new chain.

Crosby 8mm C Link - break 3500kg min.
Maggi 8mm C link - Break 3200kg min

A bog standard 8mm shackle, the type 99% of people use quite happily as those nasty C links are weak - Break around 1200-1500kg usually but occasionally you'll find some that will go to 2000kg + a smidgen. Getting over 2900kg on a 10mm is pretty good going usually as well. It is not overly unusual to get loads as low as 800kg.

These are verified numbers, we bust these things almost daily as a job. 200t hydraulic ram... Oh yeah, the boys do like their toy.

There is absolutely no way I would ever ever ever say a good well made C Link is weaker than the average bog standard shackle.

Yes there are some real crap real low load C links on the market, just like there is chain, rope, shackles, anything really. Purchase wisely and not based purely on price. Just because it has a big flash brand name doesn't mean it's better than a no-name either these days.

It's a big Global Village now gentlemen. Many many things are not what they seem and/or far from what they used to be.

If you want to join 2 bits of chain find a good well made C Link or a welder who knows thier stuff well.
 
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